House Hunters Renovation: Learning the renovation ropes

A Massachusetts couple is ready to upgrade from their one-bedroom condo into a home where they can start a family in the town of Charlestown. They hope to find a single-family Colonial near their family with at least three bedrooms and enough space to entertain guests. The Charlestown market is tough, however, so in order to find the perfect home on their budget, they have to settle for a house in need of serious updating. The frustrating renovation project requires them to deal with structural surprises behind the walls, unforeseen permitting issues and a decision that may impact their open-concept design.